For men, the only permissible material that a ring can be made of is silver. Gold, platinum, white gold, brass, copper, metal, lead etc are all impermissible for men.

`Abdullaah Ibn Buraydah narrates from his father who said: “A man came to Rasoolullaah Sallallaahu `Alayhi Wa Sallam wearing a brass ring, so he (Sallallaahu `Alayhi Wa Sallam) asked him: “Why do I get the smell of idols from you?” So he threw it (the ring) away. Then he came and he was wearing an iron ring, so he (Sallallaahu `Alayhi Wa Sallam) said: “Why do I see the jewellery of the inmates of hell on you?” So he threw it away, and he asked: “O Rasool of Allaah (Sallallaahu `Alayhi Wa Sallam) from what material should I make it?” He (Sallallaahu `Alayhi Wa Sallam) said: “Make it of silver, and do not make it (equal to) a complete Mithqaal (about 4.374 grams).”– Sunan Abu Daawood.[i]

Commenting on this Hadeeth, Mullaa `Ali Al-Qaaree Rahimahullaah says in Mirqaatul Mafaateeh: “Reported by At-Tirmidhi, Abu Daawood and An-Nasaa’ee, with a Hasan chain, in fact Ibn Hibbaan has graded it as Saheeh.”[ii]

This Hadeeth lays down the law with regards to the wearing of rings by men.

Imaam Muhammad Ibn Al-Hasan Ash-Shaybaani Rahimahullaah says in his Al-Muwatta: “It is not correct for a man to wear a ring of gold, nor iron, nor brass, nor made out of anything besides silver, as for women, then there is no problem in them wearing gold rings.”[iii]

As for the ceremony of giving wedding rings, then that is from the customs of the Kuffaar which should be avoided.

The issue with women’s rings is based upon the fact that we say it is not permissible for a woman to wear a ring made of iron, nor brass, nor copper, nor lead, based upon the Hadeeth quoted earlier from Sunan Abu Daawood.

Imaam Abu Bakr Al-Haddaadee Rahimahullaah mentions in Al-Jawharatun Nayyirah that Imaam Al-Khujandee Rahimahullaah said: “Wearing rings of iron, brass, copper and lead are a despicable act that is not permissible for men and women, because it is the dress wear of the inmates of hell.”[v]

It is for that reason that we say that not all imitation jewellery is permissible for women, because many of those rings are made of these items.

However if one of these four types of rings is covered entirely in pure silver so that a person cannot see the iron, brass etc, then such a ring will be permissible for both men and women, and likewise if it is covered in gold then it will be permissible for women.

Imaam Ibn `Aabideen Rahimahullaah says in Raddul Muhtaar: “There is no harm in him (a man) wearing an iron ring that has been covered and dressed in silver to the extent where it (the iron) cannot be seen.”[vi]